The story behind 007’s most-rocking title tune.
As a civilization we may never definitively decide which James Bond theme song is best.
“I mean, later I really pitied who had the job of writingQuantum of Solace.
Wings.Credit: GAB Archive/Redferns/Getty
So I came at it from the very obvious angle.
“Live and Let Die” was put on tape at London’s AIR studios.
“We had to have the orchestra live and so we needed the big room.
I think it was recording it live that gave it the excitement.
It usually does in a studio.
The track was produced by George Martin, the longtime Beatles collaborator.
“Oh, George was a sweetheart,” Laine says of the producer.
“He was the ultimate professional.
Obviously it was Paul who wanted him.
He knew what he was doing.
He always had suggestions too.
He wasn’t a background guy.
He was up front.
He gave good ideas.”
Saltzman acquiesced to the demand, to the benefit of both the franchise and the band.
“Live and Let Die” proved the most successful Bond theme up to that date, reaching No.
2 on the Billboard chart.
The tune was nominated for an Academy Award but was beaten by the title song fromThe Way We Were.
“It was pretty big for us,” Laine says of the song.
“We used to do it live ourselves with the band, with Wings.
Obviously, the audience just loves that track because it was so famous.”
Wings dissolved in 1981, but “Live and Let Die” has lived on.
“I loved it, I really did,” says Laine.
“It lends itself to a heavy rock version.
Wings' version was a rock version to a certain degree but it was also an orchestra.
Guns N' Roses did it as a rock band and they did a good version of it.”
Over the years, the song has become a fixture at solo shows by both McCartney and Laine.
“It always goes down really well,” says Laine.
“It’s like a ‘Goodnight!’
So will Laine be watchingNo Time to Die?
“Oh, I’ll definitely check that out,” he says.
